Small huntsman or running crab spiders

Family Philodromidae

Genus Philodromus

The spiders of this genus can be recognized by the fact that the second leg pair is longer that the other legs. Their size varies between 3 and 7 mm.
Philodromids are 'quiet' spiders that are well camouflaged but can run very fast to escape or pursuit their prey. When they flee, they run sideways.
The difference between male and female can be great, as the pictures of the Philodromus dispar shows, but in other species, the sexes may be similar.

Philodromus emarginatus female. A pinkish brown coloured spider with less defined marking.
Similar to Philodromus aureolus and Philodromus cesptium.

Philodromus emarginatus male

Philodromus emarginatus male

Philodromus histrio

Philodromus rufus male.

Philodromus rufus male.

Unknowns.

Philodromus ZZ007, ZZ008 and ZZ015.

Genus Tibellus

Female Tibellus oblongus

Female Tibellus oblongus

Female Tibellus oblongus

Tibellus oblongus male

A beautiful crab spider that can be easily recognized by the two spots and its elongated abdomen. Only two species live in this NW Europe.
Its size is about 8 - 10 mm and it can be found on long grasses.

Genus Thanatus

Seven species occur in NW-Europe. They have an elongated abdomen with a clear cardiac mark. They can be found on ground level between low vegetation. They can be easily mistaken with Philodromus and the wolf spider Alopecosa.